Collapsible container with detachably hinged side panels

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container including a base ( 1 ) and four side panels ( 15, 16, 17, 18 ) with u-shaped links ( 41 ) coupling the side panels to the base ( 1 ) to enable the side panels ( 15, 16, 17, 18 ) to fold down over the base ( 1 ) to a storage position from a use position where the side panels ( 15, 16, 17, 18 ) are interconnected and upstanding from the base ( 1 ). Spring means ( 46 ) bias first link spigot ( 43 ), located in sleeve ( 48 ) attached to the base, to retain second link spigot ( 44 ) in saddle ( 49 ) attached to the panel. The panel is detached by applying counter effort to link body ( 42 ) and spring ( 46 ) to withdraw the second link spigot ( 44 ) from saddle ( 49 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to collapsible containers generally and inparticular to the connections between the base and side panels ofcollapsible containers allowing the side panels to fold down over eachother and the base.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Collapsible containers of many forms are known. One form has a base withcoupled side panels which can be folded down to overlying relationshipone with the others and all in overlying relationship with the base. Aparticular form of this type of container is disclosed in Australianpatent 694001.

In that patent application there is disclosed a collapsible containerhaving two side panel pairs where the panels of each pair lie atopposite sides of a rectangular base. The panels are all permanentlyconnected to a base, each by two links, to permit the side panels to belowered to the collapsed condition from an upstanding condition. In theupstanding condition the side panels are maintained by engagement ofpanel bottom flanges with channels on the base. By the use of couplingmeans the side panels when upstanding are interconnected to form anenclosure.

The links in a preferred form disclosed in Australian patent 694001 eachhave an elongated body with parallel end spigots respectivelypermanently engaged in a bearing means fixed to the base and in a slotof a saddle member fixed to a panel. This arrangement works well butdoes not allow removal of a side panel from the base. For thoroughcleaning of the container after use it is desirable to have one, if notall, of the side panels demountable from the base.

The present invention addresses this need in a manner which will bereadily understood from the following description of the accompanyingdrawings.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF INVENTION

Broadly, the present invention provides a collapsible containerincluding a four sided base, four side panels connected respectively tothe four sides of the base each by a pair of links allowing the sidepanels to be folded down from an erect position upstanding from the baseinto overlying relationship with each other and the base, the links ofat least one side panel being releasable links allowing said one sidepanel to be demounted from the base, each releasable link includes abody with a first spigot and a second spigot with the spigotssubstantially parallel and extending in the same direction away from thebody, the first spigots of said releasable links are respectivelypermanently engaged in bearing means on said base in a manner allowingthe first spigots to pivot in said bearing means and to move in saidbearing means in a direction aligned with the axis of pivoting of saidfirst spigots, the second spigots of said releasable links arerespectively engaged in tracks of said one side panel in a mannerallowing said second spigots to pivot in said tracks and move along saidtracks in a direction lateral to the axis of pivoting of said secondspigots and to be axially withdrawn from said tracks, and biassing meansfor each of said releasable links to bias said first spigots to innerpositions in said bearing means corresponding with engaged positions forsaid second spigots in said tracks, said second spigots being disengagedfrom said tracks to allow demounting of said one side panel from saidbase by axial movement of said first spigots towards outer positions insaid bearing means against said biassing means.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a base of a known form of collapsiblecontainer,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one pair of panels for use with the baseof FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container utilising the base of FIG. 1and two pairs of panels as shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the link components for apermanent link connection between the base and a panel, with the panelupright in an operative relationship with panel mounting means of thebase,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the panel is disengaged fromits mounting means but still erect,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 where the panel is disengaged fromits mounting means but folded down as part of the container collapsingprocess,

FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows a first stage in the collapse of thecontainer,

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the second stage in thecollapse of the container,

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the third stage in thecollapse of the container,

FIG. 10 shows the container collapsed,

FIG. 11 is an enlarged exploded and fragmentary view of link componentsaccording to this invention for demountably linking a panel to the baseof a container,

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the link components assembledcoupling the panel to the base,

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 with the coupling link retractedallowing the panel to be demounted from the base,

FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation of the panel-link-base arrangement forthe configuration of FIG. 12,

FIG. 15 is a sectional elevation of the panel-link-base arrangement forthe configuration of FIG. 13,

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the link connection of FIG.12 between the base and a panel, with the panel retained in an uprightoperative relationship with the base by coupling means,

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 where the panel is disengaged fromits coupling means but still erect, and

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16 where the panel is disengaged fromits coupling means but folded down into an overlying relationship withthe base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

As background to the way in which the present invention relates to folddown side containers, and to facilitate an understanding of the presentinvention, the following description repeats a large part of thedescription of Australian patent 694001.

As illustrated the base 1 of FIG. 1 is made of metal and includeselements making it a “pallet” type base for the container. It is to beunderstood that the base need not be of the pallet type. The base 1 hastwo parallel sides 2,3 and a bearer 4 there between. The bottom edges ofthe sides 2 and 3 and the bearer 4 are connected by several transversebattens 5, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1. A load supporting floorpanel 6 is provided. The sides 2,3 above the floor panel 6 are parts ofbox sections forming rails 7 each with an inner skin 8 and a top 9.

Extending the length of each rail top 9 there is a strip spaced abovethe rail top 9 to form channels 13 and there are like strips located atthe edges of the base between the rails 7 to provide channels 14. Ateach corner of the base there are upstanding angle legs 10 forming partof the rails 7.

Four panels (as per FIGS. 2 and 3) are coupled to the base 1 by linkmeans. The panels are in pairs (see FIG. 3) with oppositely disposedpanels 15,16 of one pair coupled by links 11 to the legs 10 (see FIGS. 4to 6) and the panels 17,18 are oppositely disposed and are coupled tothe inner skins 8 of the rails 7 by like links 11. Each panel ispreferably formed from a frame of angle iron members with out-turnedflanges and an attached inner cladding sheet 20. It is to be noted thatthe panels 15,16 have a height less than that of the panels 17,18 forreasons which will become clear from the following detailed description.As will be seen from FIG. 2 the panel 17 is provided with slide bolts 21for engagement in holes 22 in the frames of the panels 15,16. The sidebolts 21 (provided on both panels 17 and 18) and the holes 22 providesecuring means, as will be later described.

The container in an erected condition is shown in FIG. 3 where theflanges 19 of the upright sides of the panels 17 (and 18) are engagedwith the hooks 23 to provide a coupling means for the erected panels.Securing means to secure the panels in coupled relationship is providedby entry of the slide bolts 21 into the holes 22.

The collapsed condition of the container is shown in FIG. 10 with thepanels folded down and in overlying relationship, each with the otherand all with respect to the base 1. This relationship is made possibleby the links 11. The function of the links 11 as part of the folding anderecting process for the panels will now be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6.

In the panel erected condition the flange 40 of the bottom frame memberof the side 17 is engaged in the channel 14. The links 11 at theopposite edges of the panel 17 are top connected to pins 12 on the innerskin 8 of the rails 7 and are bottom connected to the pins 28 onopposite upright side edges of the panel 17, see FIG. 4. In a typicalpanel collapsing sequence the panel 17 is first moved in the directionof the arrow A, normal to the plane of the panel, with arcuate movementof the link 11 about the two pivot pins 12 and 28. In the case of thepanels 15 and 16 the pins 12 are fixed to the legs 10. FIG. 5 shows thepanel 17 withdrawn so the panel bottom flange 40 is free of the channel14. The notch 26 in the panel upright houses the pin 12 when the panelis in the FIG. 4 position.

FIG. 6 illustrates the arrangement of the components when the panel 17is folded down (full lines) and when tilted and raised (broken lines)ready for lowering to the full line position or as will be the elevationof the opposite panel 18 when it is folded down to overlie the panel 17.

By following the folding down sequence of FIGS. 4 to 6 in the sequenceshown in FIGS. 7 to 9 the collapsed configuration of FIG. 10 can beachieved. The security of the connection of the panels to the base andthe simplicity of the erection and collapsing sequences can be readilyseen from the drawings provided.

Where a lid is required a suitable lid can be designed to co-operatewith the panels of the container and to that end the bracket 25 with ahole therein is shown on the top rail of the panel 17 in FIG. 3.

Whilst an “L” shaped link is shown a straight link can be used. In thecase of a straight link the link accommodating notch 27 in the flange 40of the panel 17 would have to be deeper than that shown in FIG. 6 foruse with an “L” shaped link 11.

The present invention involves replacing the links 11 with a differentform of link identified 41 in FIGS. 11 to 18. The link 41 has anelongated bent body 42 made from round cross-section rod with a top andbottom out turned parallel spigots 43 and 44 with the spigot 43 longerthan the spigot 44. There is a loose collar 45 on the spigot 43 and acompression spring 46 lies between the collar 45 and a retainer 47 onthe spigot 43.

In use the collar 45 is fixed to the end of a sleeve 48 with a boresufficiently large to allow the spring 46 and retainer 47 to slide inthe bore. This can be seen from sectional views FIGS. 14 and 15. In FIG.14 the link 41 is shown in the retracted condition with the spring 46exerting pressure to maintain the link 41 in the illustrated positionwith the spigot 44 engaged in an elongated saddle 49 on the side panel17.

FIG. 15 illustrates the uncoupling process involving spring compressingmovement of the link 41 in the direction of the arrow A to release thespigot 44 from the saddle 49. It follows that movement of both linkswill allow the side panel to be demounted from the base.

As shown in FIG. 17, in a panel folding sequence, the panel 17 is firstmoved in the direction of the arrow B with pivotal movement of the linkspigot 43 in the collar 45 and the link spigot 44 in the elongatedsaddle 49. A similar arrangement are provided for the panels 15, 16 and18.

FIG. 17 shows the panel flange 40 withdrawn from the channel 14 so thepanel is free of the channel and rests on the floor panel 6 as a resultof the movement of the link spigot 44 along the opening in the saddle49. This movement also allows the panel 17 to be folded down flat ontothe panel 6 as shown in full lines in FIG. 18. The dotted outline is ofthe panel 17 prior to lowering into overlying relationship with thepanel 6 and also represents the elevation of the panel 18 when foldeddown onto the panel 17.

The general panel erection procedure is the reverse of the fold downprocedure as shown in FIGS. 7 through 10, and individually as shown inFIGS. 4 through 6, and FIGS. 16 through 18.

The foregoing is a presently preferred embodiment of the invention andit is to be understood that, for example, non-inventive changes can bemade to the manner of resiliently biassing the links 41 to the FIGS. 12and 13 condition, without departing from the inventive conceptshereinbefore disclosed and hereinafter claimed. Another modificationmight be the manufacture of the links 41 from other than round sectionrod.

It is to be understood that whilst the foregoing description hasinferred that all four side panels of the container are secured to thebase by releasable links the invention applies to the mounting of oneside panel by such links and the other panels my have the linkarrangements of Australian patent 694001.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible container including a four sidedbase, four side panels connected respectively to the four sides of thebase each by a pair of links allowing the side panels to be folded downfrom an erect position upstanding from the base into overlyingrelationship with each other and the base, the links of at least oneside panel being releasable links allowing said one side panel to bedemounted from the base, each releasable link includes a body with afirst spigot and a second spigot with the spigots substantially paralleland extending in the same direction away from the body, the firstspigots of said releasable links are respectively permanently engaged inbearing means on said base in a manner allowing the first spigots topivot in said bearing means and to move in said bearing means in adirection aligned with the axis of pivoting of said first spigots, thesecond spigots of said releasable links are respectively engaged intracks of said one side panel in a manner allowing said second spigotsto pivot in said tracks and move along said tracks in a directionlateral to the axis of pivoting of said second spigots and to be axiallywithdrawn from said tracks, and biassing means for each of saidreleasable links to bias said first spigots to inner positions in saidbearing means corresponding with engaged positions for said secondspigots in said tracks, said second spigots being disengaged from saidtracks to allow demounting of said one side panel from said base byaxial movement of said first spigots towards outer positions in saidbearing means against said biassing means.
 2. A collapsible container asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said biassing means for each first spigot isa coil spring though which said first spigot passes, the spring beinglocated between shoulder means on said first spigot and shoulder meansof said bearing means.
 3. A collapsible container as claimed in claim 2wherein said bearing means includes a member fixed to the base andhaving a through bore which is stepped to provide a smaller diameterpart to receive and bearingly support said first spigot, and a largerdiameter part to house said coil spring disposed between a collar onsaid first spigot and a step in said bore separating the bore smallerand larger diameter parts.
 4. A collapsible container as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the releasable links are formed from circularcross-section steel bar.